28 THE SHIPWRECK,

CHAPTER III.

Fit of Temper — Origin of Hatred — A Fiery Character.

Tue death of Maria happened but a short time pre-
vious to Count Charles D’Estaing’s return to his father’s
mansion, after an absence of more than two years. The
young lord had promised himself an abundance of pleasure
from a hunting excursion; but in this, as in all other
sports, he was too much inclined to get angry at trifles,
and to become violent and unreasonable. _

One October evening the count was returning with his
gun and his dogs, accompanied by a gamekeeper, and wag
crossing the park on his way to the chateau.

He had been hunting all day with no success; every
thing had gone wrong; the dogs had been at fault, and his
new and costly fowlingpiece had repeatedly burnt prime,
whilst game was passing before him within half distance.
He had encountered so many disappointments, that he
would have been extraordinarily patient not to have felt